Saint Jerome Hearing the Trumpet of the Last Judgment (ca. 1621) is an example of the kind of religious subjects the artist normally depicted. With its prominent foul biting (the four diagonal lines running along both edges), this is an early impression of the only state of this plate. Ribera approached printmaking as an opportunity to explore theme and variation. St. Jerome is the centerpiece of a painting and several other prints, none of which can be considered copies after or preparations for the others. Because his prints were experimental and made for his own gratification, he pulled them in relatively small editions to share with his friends or special patrons. It wasn’t until he sold the plates to a Dutch publisher who produced large editions that their quality diminished.

from Calendar of Events, January-August 2015